History Creator / SarahPolley

Sarah Ellen Polley [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever OC]] (born January 8, 1979 in Toronto, Ontario) is a [[UsefulNotes/Canada Canadian]] actress, director, and screenwriter.

Sarah Ellen Polley [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever OC]] (born January 8, 1979 in Toronto, Ontario) is a [[CanadaEh Canadian]] actress, director, and screenwriter.

After directing a few shorts, Polley made her feature directorial debut in 2006 with the drama ''Film/AwayFromHer'', adapted from Alice Munro's short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain" about a married couple, Grant and Fiona, whose relationship is strained when Fiona develops Alzheimer's disease. The film, which starred Creator/JulieChristie, was an astounding critical success, winning seven of the eight Genie Awards it was nominated for. Polley also wrote and directed the 2011 romantic dramedy ''Take This Waltz'', the 2012 [[Creator/NationalFilmBoardOfCanada NFB]] documentary ''Stories We Tell'', and the 2022 drama ''Film/WomenTalking'' (for which she won the 2023 UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardForBestAdaptedScreenplay). She also wrote the 2017 drama series ''Series/AliasGrace'', and co-directed the 2020 Canadian comedy web series ''Hey Lady!''. She has stated that she enjoys both acting and directing, as they each use a different part of her brain.

Beginning her career at the age of four with a bit part in ''Film/OneMagicChristmas'', Polley's first starring role was as Literature/RamonaQuimby in the miniseries ''Ramona''. She was also featured in Creator/TerryGilliam's CultClassic film ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBaronMunchausen'', but first came to national prominence in ''Series/RoadToAvonlea'' as the lead character Sara Stanley. She later became acclaimed for her roles in indie films, winning a Genie Award for ''Film/MyLifeWithoutMe''. Her first mainstream role was as Ana Clark in Creator/ZackSnyder's ''[[Film/DawnOfTheDead2004 Dawn of the Dead]]'' remake, with other notable performances in ''Film/{{Go}}'', ''Film/{{eXistenZ}}'', ''Film/{{Splice}}'', and the miniseries ''Series/JohnAdams''.

Polley is also known for her political activism, being a prominent member of Canada's [[UsefulNotes/CanadianPolitics New Democratic Party]]. The impetus was her refusing to take off a peace sign that she wore to a 1991 award ceremony in protest against UsefulNotes/TheGulfWar, much to Disney's chagrin. Their relationship soured and she left ''Road to Avonlea'' as a result. Another notable incident came in 2010 when she directed a two-minute film, ''The Heart'', supporting the Heart and Stroke Foundation for the UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s. When she found out that the film had been commissioned by Becel margarine, she had her name removed from the credits. In a [[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/14/opinion/sunday/harvey-weinstein-sarah-polley.html 2017 opinion piece]] for ''The New York Times'' written in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual misconduct scandal, she stated that she had refrained from acting for nearly a decade due to Hollywood's treatment of women.

Beginning her career at the age of four with a bit part in ''Film/OneMagicChristmas'', Polley's first starring role was as Literature/RamonaQuimby in the miniseries ''Ramona''. She was also featured in Creator/TerryGilliam's CultClassic film ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBaronMunchausen'', but first came to national prominence in ''Series/RoadToAvonlea'' as the lead character Sara Stanley. She later became acclaimed for her roles in indie films, winning a Genie Award for ''Film/MyLifeWithoutMe''. Her first mainstream role was as Ana Clark in Creator/ZackSnyder's ''[[Film/DawnOfTheDead2004 Dawn of the Dead]]'' remake, with other notable media including ''Film/{{Go}}'', ''Film/{{eXistenZ}}'', ''Film/{{Splice}}'', and the mini-series ''Series/JohnAdams''.

* ''Film/MyLifeWithoutMe'' (2003)

Beginning her career at the age of four with a bit part in ''Film/OneMagicChristmas'', Polley's first starring role was as Literature/RamonaQuimby in the miniseries ''Ramona''. She was also featured in Creator/TerryGilliam's CultClassic film ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBaronMunchausen'', but first came to national prominence in ''Series/RoadToAvonlea'' as the lead character Sara Stanley. She later became acclaimed for her roles in indie films, winning a Genie Award for ''My Life Without Me''. Her first mainstream role was as Ana Clark in Creator/ZackSnyder's ''[[Film/DawnOfTheDead2004 Dawn of the Dead]]'' remake, with other notable media including ''Film/{{Go}}'', ''Film/{{eXistenZ}}'', ''Film/{{Splice}}'', and the mini-series ''Series/JohnAdams''.

Polley made her directorial debut in 2006 with the drama ''Away from Her'', adapted from Alice Munro's short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain" about a married couple, Grant and Fiona, whose relationship is strained when Fiona develops Alzheimer's disease. The film, which starred Creator/JulieChristie, was an astounding critical success, winning seven of the eight Genie Awards it was nominated for. Polley also wrote and directed the 2011 romantic dramedy ''Take This Waltz'', the 2012 [[Creator/NationalFilmBoardOfCanada NFB]] documentary ''Stories We Tell'', and the 2022 drama ''Film/WomenTalking'', for which she won the 2023 UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardForBestAdaptedScreenplay. She has stated that she enjoys both acting and directing, as it uses different parts of her brain separately.

!! Selected works:
!!! '''As actress'''

* ''Series/RoadToAvonlea'' (1990-1996) as Sara Stanley

* ''Film/{{eXistenZ}}'' (1999) as Merle

!!! '''As writer and director'''
* ''My Life Without Me'' (2003)

* ''Away from Her'' (2006)

Polley is also known for her political activism, being a prominent member of Canada's [[UsefulNotes/CanadianPolitics New Democratic Party]]. The impetus was her refusing to take off a peace sign that she wore to a 1991 award ceremony in protest against UsefulNotes/TheGulfWar, much to Disney's chagrin. Their relationship soured and she left ''Road to Avonlea'' as a result. Another notable incident came in 2010 when she directed a two-minute film, ''The Heart'', supporting the Heart and Stroke Foundation for the UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s. When she found out that the film had been commissioned by Becel margarine, she had her name removed from the credits. In a [[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/14/opinion/sunday/harvey-weinstein-sarah-polley.html 2017 opinion piece]] for ''The New York Times'' written in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual-misconduct scandal, she stated that she had refrained from acting for nearly a decade due to Hollywood's treatment of women.

Beginning her career at the age of four with a bit part in ''Film/OneMagicChristmas'', Polley's first starring role was as Literature/RamonaQuimby in the miniseries ''Ramona''. She also featured in the CultClassic ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBaronMunchausen'' directed by Creator/TerryGilliam. She first came to national prominence in ''Series/RoadToAvonlea'' as the lead character Sara Stanley. She later became acclaimed for her roles in indie films, winning a Genie Award for ''My Life Without Me''. Her first mainstream role was as Ana Clark in the ''[[Film/DawnOfTheDead2004 Dawn of the Dead]]'' remake, with other notable media including ''Film/{{Go}}'', ''Film/{{eXistenZ}}'', ''Film/{{Splice}}'', and the mini-series ''Series/JohnAdams''.

Polley made her directorial debut in 2006 with the drama ''Away from Her'', adapted from Creator/AliceMunro's short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain" about a married couple, Grant and Fiona, whose relationship is strained when Fiona develops Alzheimer's Disease. The film, which starred Creator/JulieChristie, was an astounding critical success, winning seven of the eight Genie Awards it was nominated for. Polley also wrote and directed the 2011 romantic dramedy ''Take This Waltz'' and the 2012 [[Creator/NationalFilmBoardOfCanada NFB]] documentary ''Stories We Tell''. She claims that she enjoys both acting and directing, as it uses different parts of her brain separately.

Beginning her career at the age of four with a bit part in ''Film/OneMagicChristmas'', Polley's first starring role was as the title girl in the miniseries version of ''Ramona'' (as in Literature/RamonaQuimby). She also featured in the CultClassic ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBaronMunchausen'' directed by Creator/TerryGilliam. She first came to national prominence in ''Series/RoadToAvonlea'' as the lead character Sara Stanley. She later became acclaimed for her roles in indie films, winning a Genie Award for ''My Life Without Me''. Her first mainstream role was as Ana Clark in the ''[[Film/DawnOfTheDead2004 Dawn of the Dead]]'' remake, with other notable media including ''Film/{{Go}}'', ''Film/{{eXistenZ}}'', ''Film/{{Splice}}'', and the mini-series ''Series/JohnAdams''.

She made her directorial debut in 2006 with the drama ''Away from Her'', adapted from Creator/AliceMunro's short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain" about a married couple, Grant and Fiona, whose relationship is strained when Fiona develops Alzheimer's Disease. The film, which starred Creator/JulieChristie, was an astounding critical success, winning seven of the eight Genie Awards it was nominated for. Polley also wrote and directed the 2011 romantic dramedy ''Take This Waltz'' and the 2012 [[Creator/NationalFilmBoardOfCanada NFB]] documentary ''Stories We Tell''. She claims that she enjoys both acting and directing, as it uses different parts of her brain separately.

Beginning her career at the age of four with a bit part in ''Film/OneMagicChristmas'', her first starring role was as the title girl in the miniseries version of ''Ramona'' (as in Literature/RamonaQuimby). She also featured in the CultClassic ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBaronMunchausen'' directed by Creator/TerryGilliam. She first came to national prominence in ''Series/RoadToAvonlea'' as the lead character Sara Stanley. She later became acclaimed for her roles in indie films, winning a Genie Award for ''My Life Without Me''. Her first mainstream role was as Ana Clark in the ''[[Film/DawnOfTheDead2004 Dawn of the Dead]]'' remake, with other notable media including ''Film/{{Go}}'', ''Film/{{eXistenZ}}'', ''Film/{{Splice}}'', and the mini-series ''Series/JohnAdams''.

Beginning her career at the age of 4 with a bit part in ''Film/OneMagicChristmas'', her first starring role was as the title girl in the miniseries version of ''Ramona'' (as in Literature/RamonaQuimby). She also featured in the CultClassic ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBaronMunchausen'' directed by Creator/TerryGilliam. She first came to national prominence in ''Series/RoadToAvonlea'' as the lead character Sara Stanley. She later became acclaimed for her roles in indie films, winning a Genie Award for ''My Life Without Me''. Her first mainstream role was as Ana Clark in the ''[[Film/DawnOfTheDead2004 Dawn of the Dead]]'' remake, with other notable media including ''Film/{{Go}}'', ''Film/{{eXistenZ}}'', ''Film/{{Splice}}'', and the mini-series ''Series/JohnAdams''.